It's Not a Toomah...Except That It Is

PLEASE NOTE: Tam isn’t asking for help. In fact, this will be a surprise. But Tam gives so much of herself, and does so much for others, that we wanted to do something for her. (Please do not direct any questions to Tam.)

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It started with a routine dental appointment, where the dentist noticed the swollen lymph node in Tam’s neck. (Has anyone else ever had a dentist even look at their neck? Strong work, sir!)

From there, Tam went to see her primary care physician, an ENT doctor, and had a CT scan. In typical Tam fashion, she kept her cool even when the CT scan results called her swelling a “mass”. Even when it read “strong possibility of metastatic lymphadenopathy”. Even when it said her carotid and jugular are being displaced. All things no one wants to hear.

Following that was the biopsy. Cue the fear of a needle in your neck(!), the average patient’s concern over results, the average healthcare worker patient’s concern over whether sufficient sampling was performed, all coupled with the expected post-procedural swelling, discomfort, and care.

What followed were days, which felt like weeks, of agonizing waiting.

When they finally came in, the results were…ambiguous.

What followed were days of a-little-less-agonizing waiting. Less, because the report didn’t actually include the dreaded C word. Less, because Tam was able to just live her life for a few days while she waited for a physician to interpret those results.

Finally, she heard what she’d wanted, needed, prayed to hear: her mass is benign! Toomah, yes. Cancer, no.

Specifically, doctors think it’s a schwannoma (a tumor that forms in the nervous system). But it could also be a carotid body tumor (a tumor that forms in the carotid artery). TBD.

It was time to give said toomah a title. How can you have a little friend - or have others say hello to your little friend - without a way to refer to him? Doctors originally thought the schwannoma originated in the vagus nerve. There was the obvious “what happens in vagus, stays in vagus”, along with “schwanna piece o’ me?”, and finally the moniker that has stuck: Shawn the Schwannoma.

But Shawn wasn’t content to just be. He wanted to see and be seen. So it’s been one appointment after another: consults with various specialists (oncologist, ENT specialist, microvascular surgeon), as well as some imaging. Following that will be surgery and recovery. Then it’s sayonara and see ya later, Shawn!

On a serious note, we are so thankful to Jehovah that it’s not the big C. For all the obvious reasons, but also with Tam being on her own, so far from home and family, it was heart-wrenching to imagine her navigating all that solo. While it’s still distressing, she has a wonderful congregation and a multitude of friends like family, who’ve shown her incredible love and support these past four years, and will no doubt continue to do so. Jehovah has seen to it that she is well cared for.

At the same time, you’re reading this because we want to give those close (yet physically distant) to Tam the opportunity to help too. We are so unbelievably proud of her for venturing out to NY, extending herself and working hard for Jehovah, all while supporting herself with part-time work. Our goal is to ease what burdens we can, so she can focus on healing.

Shawn isn’t something anyone financially plans for. We’re creating this fund to help Tam with her medical bills. Please know all funds will be used to support her as detailed below:

• The medical bills. For imaging, testing, appointments, surgery, follow-ups, possible therapy post-operatively, etc.

• The time off work for recovery. Tam is trying not to take more than one week off work. We’ve told her not to worry about anything but her health. Nevertheless, she insists.

• The gases. We hail from a city where you can get anywhere in 15 minutes. In Patterson, it takes at minimum 30-45 minutes to get anywhere Tam frequents regularly (her Kingdom Hall, work, Costco, Trader Joe’s, etc). Not to mention driving to all her recent and upcoming appointments.

• The grubs and groceries. Inflation is real!

Please know that no amount is too small, and nothing will be wasted. If you’re so moved, please consider donating. If you prefer to donate directly, please contact Thao for details. We thank you for your continued love and prayers.